Exova's Aerospace Testing Labs Benefit from £300,000 Investment

Specialist aerospace laboratories operated by Exova, the global materials testing provider, have received a major investment.

Exova's laboratories in Plzen, Czech Republic, and Newcastle, UK, have shared a £300,000 investment into their creep strain facilities.

In total, 42 test frames are being upgraded with a new, sophisticated automated control system. Of the 42 frames, 10 are being upgraded in Plzen and 32 in Newcastle.

Of these, eight frames will have a test temperature capability up to 1,200ºC. All frames will be operational by the end of the year, and the extra capacity will help meet increased worldwide demand for this test type.

The new control system is capable of controlling temperature, strain measurement and load control on any type of creep test.

Creep strain testing is a critical test performed for the aerospace industry, in particular for engine manufacturers, where knowledge of how a material deforms through a range of temperatures and loads is required.

Jiri Fidransky, general manager of the Plzen and Newcastle labs, said: "This is a significant investment for the Aerospace Division and will keep Exova at the forefront of the testing industry.

"In particular, we are pleased to further develop our high temperature capacity to enable us to test up to 1,200ºC. As operating temperatures are required to increase so the demand for high temperature creep testing increases. High temperatures like this are challenging for material testing, and are very much the future of the industry."